Educators' Institute for Human Rights receives 2021 O’Brien Award

Last week, Human Rights Educators USA (HRE USA) announced the winners of its 2021 O’Brien Award for Human Rights Education. Educators’ Institute for Human Rights of Washington, DC received the O’Brien Award for Organizational Achievement.

Founded by teachers for teachers, Educators’ Institute for Human Rights (EIHR) supports communities recovering from violent conflict by cultivating partnerships among educators globally to create materials and deliver training based on best practices in Holocaust and human rights education.  "We apply the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides as a starting point for teaching how violent conflicts evolve," said John Heffernan, EIHR's board president. "By learning about past conflicts, students then are better prepared to prevent violence and help build sustainable peace."

Established in 2015 in memory of Edward O’Brien, pioneer human rights educator, the O’Brien Awards annually honor an individual and an organization that have made an outstanding contribution to human rights education in the United States. The 2021 awards will be presented as part of HRE USA’s Human Rights Day Celebration on Thursday, December 10, at 3:30 EST.

EIHR’s Executive Director Kate English will accept the award on behalf of the organization. An Arlington, VA resident, English taught in Alexandria City Public Schools prior to accepting her position with EIHR. “This award places critical value on the role that education can play in preventing violence," said English. “To be recognized for our work reflects a collaborative effort among teachers around the world.”

Some of EIHR’s current projects include the EIHR Teacher Corps, a fellowship-style teacher leadership program with Rwandan educators; publication of a teaching manual created in partnership with educators and NGOs in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and a pilot program on Holocaust history and sustainable peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.